Note f121 — ON SATORI—THE REVELATION OF A NEW TRUTH IN ZEN BUDDHISM
Reading edition
Tsu-yüan (1226–1286) came to Japan when the Hōjō family was in power at Kamakura. He established the Engakuji monastery which is one of the chief Zen monasteries in Japan. While still in China his temple was invaded by soldiers of the Yüan dynasty, who threatened to kill him, but Bukko was immovable and quietly uttered the following verse:
“Throughout heaven and earth there is not a piece of ground where a single stick could be inserted; I am glad that all things are void, myself and the world: Honoured be the sword, three feet long, wielded by the great Yüan swordsmen; For it is like cutting a spring breeze amidst the flashes of lightning.”
See Chinese Notes, [5.40].